Airman freezes to death after leaving party drunk

An evening of joy turned into a holiday tragedy last week when a 19-year-old airman from Mountain Home AFB froze to death after leaving a friend's bachelor party drunk.

A1C Thomas Allen Brannan, of Hayden, Colo., who served with the 366th Logistics Readiness Squadron on base, had attended a party at 512C Caribou Apartments the night of Dec. 19. At some point in the evening he left the party without his coat on, despite temperatures in the low teens and a biting wind that night.

The following Tuesday, when he didn't show up for work, the Mountain Home Police Department was contacted by his squadron and a missing person's report was filed. The Elmore County Sheriff's office also was contacted and both entities began looking for the young man.

The Elmore County Search and Rescue Unit was activated, and a Search and Rescue K-9 team began searching the fields around the Caribou Apartments, along with county officials and searchers from the Air Force, who found Brannan's body just as the search was being called off due to darkness.

Final autopsy results are not expected for several weeks, but preliminary findings indicate Brannan died of hypothermia as a result of being intoxicated. Drinking typically aggravates hypothermic conditions.

Although he was under Idaho's legal age to be drinking, his blood alcohol content was determined to be .14, nearly twice the .08 definition of intoxication in Idaho.

Capt. Mike Barclay of the Elmore County Sheriff's office said Brannan was found lying under a tree and wearing only his shoes, socks and pants. His shirt was laying beside him. No jacket was found nearby.

Barclay noted that "people do weird things when hypothermia sets in. It's not unusual for them to become delusional."

A joint investigation by the city police, the sheriff's office, the Air Force's Office of Special Investigations and the base security police is continuing into the incident. A preliminary report has been forwarded to the Elmore County Prosecutor's Office for review and possible charges stemming from the drinking activity at the party.

Prosecutor Aaron Bazzoli said he will be working with base officials in deciding what, if any, charges will be filed, either by him or by base authorities. The military and civil authorities use different codes of justice, both of which may apply.

Bazzoli said he will review the case "to see what best serves the interest of justice in this tragedy."

Potential penalties under Idaho law could range from misdemeanor providing alcohol to a minor up to felony manslaughter charges. The base's decisions would be based on the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Meanwhile, the friends and family of Brannan have been mourning his loss.

"A1C Brannan was a fellow Gunfighter who has departed us unexpectedly," a statement provided by his squadron said. "A memorial service will be held for all who would like to attend."

The service celebrating Brannan's life will be held on Thursday, Dec. 30, at the Mountain Home AFB base chapel, beginning at 1 p.m.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to his family," a base spokesperson said.

A memorial service at his high school had been scheduled to be held in his home town of Hayden, Colo., on Tuesday, Dec. 28, according to Rost Funeral Home of Mountain Home, which was handling local arrangements. Arrangements in the small mountain community of Hayden were being handled by Grant Mortuary of nearby Craig, Colo.

Brannan was born May 5, 1985, in Brawley, Calif., to Patrick and Karen (Cole) Brannan.

His childhood was spent in North Carolina, Grand Junction, Colo., Craig, Colo., and various other places in the United States prior to his family moving to Hayden, where he graduated from high school in 2003.

During high school he was active in track and football and was a member of the Boy Scouts of America.

Following high school he enlisted in the United States Air Force and was assigned to Mountain Home AFB, where he served as a vehicle mechanic with the 366th LRS. He had served a tour in the United Arab Emirates as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, snowboarding "and anything to do with the outdoors."

He is survived by: his father and stepmother, Patrick and Glenda Brannan of Hayden; sisters Jessica Eileen Brannan of Hayden and Laura Oatman of Colbran, Colo.; his grandparents, Sarah Cole of Craig, Colo. and Kenneth and Carol Rhodes of Hayden, as well as several aunts, uncles and numerous other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Karen, and his grandparents, Edna and Dale Brannan and Kenneth Cole.